It is a cute, vulgar (pop-culture) profaning of holy things, which seems to confirm sacrilege, and a very low ordered profanation for today. I keep expecting to see a Coca Cola advertisement with the three kings bringing Cokes, except that their current advertising board now sees adopting Christian images as damaging if any sincerity shown at all. They might soon go for pelting the manger with empties, though.
Nothing against those of a feline nature, but I accept only Catholic priests as having the privilege of acting in persona Christi. Jesus Christ is God, this we believe as true. It is common knowledge that Nativity scenes depict the Divine infant in a manger. So this can be truly characterized as profanation. What would be the reaction if Mohamed, who is not God, was depicted in this way? I ask this because, their reaction and the intentions of whoever created this notwithstanding, they would see this for what it is. No Catholic should possess or display anything like this in place of a traditional Nativity scene.
A slightly different yet related take. While this isn't the ideal, it hardly rises to the level of offensive like Pu$$y Riot profaning the mother cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, or the urinal/Blessed Mother "art" scandal of quite some years back at this point.
If the Church took itself that seriously, and the Pope himself didn't sanction abstract "art" in the form of alternate nativity scenes or statues, perhaps such things would not be made despite the cuteness of cats and kittens mimicking our Saviour's birth. In the U.S., the Government has replaced the Church as arbiter on moral issues and the hierarchy, either will not (implying agreement), or are afraid to take a stand. Moral authority lost, weak liturgy, wounded by scandal and at times, too focused on non-governmental-organization social justice matters at the expense of preaching the gospels, administration of the sacraments (like they continue to mean something) in addition to the saving of souls. By no means is this the universal experience in this country; but, it is nonetheless prevalent in many places. What, then, do people expect?
That was a tour de force - you summed up nicely where things stand. My hopes are attached to the younger clergy who are far more orthodox than their elders and are decidedly not hostile to sacred tradition. In my parish and two neighboring ones, all 3 pastors, all in their thirties, celebrate the TLM (Roche and the rest of Canute and company will be grieved). Someday prelates like Cupich, Gregory and Tobin AND Pope Francis will just be a bad memory
11 comments:
Are they CAT-tholic?
Not high on my list as sacrilegious compared how the Novus Ordo is celebrated in many places
rcg - Booooooooo!
I like the 3 wise cats and baby fur Jesus.
I have 2 cats.
It is a cute, vulgar (pop-culture) profaning of holy things, which seems to confirm sacrilege, and a very low ordered profanation for today. I keep expecting to see a Coca Cola advertisement with the three kings bringing Cokes, except that their current advertising board now sees adopting Christian images as damaging if any sincerity shown at all. They might soon go for pelting the manger with empties, though.
As long as it places one in mind of the Holy Nativity, then no.
Rcg: Well, one of them appears to be wearing a dog collar, which might suggest some ambivalence regarding the precise denominational category.
Father Kavanaugh: Is that an owl? Perhaps you are trying to scare them.
Fr. K. That’s what I ask my wife when she prays her Rosary surrounded by her cats. She has your reaction, too.
Nothing against those of a feline nature, but I accept only Catholic priests as having the privilege of acting in persona Christi. Jesus Christ is God, this we believe as true. It is common knowledge that Nativity scenes depict the Divine infant in a manger. So this can be truly characterized as profanation. What would be the reaction if Mohamed, who is not God, was depicted in this way? I ask this because, their reaction and the intentions of whoever created this notwithstanding, they would see this for what it is. No Catholic should possess or display anything like this
in place of a traditional Nativity scene.
TJM,
A slightly different yet related take. While this isn't the ideal, it hardly rises to the level of offensive like Pu$$y Riot profaning the mother cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, or the urinal/Blessed Mother "art" scandal of quite some years back at this point.
If the Church took itself that seriously, and the Pope himself didn't sanction abstract "art" in the form of alternate nativity scenes or statues, perhaps such things would not be made despite the cuteness of cats and kittens mimicking our Saviour's birth. In the U.S., the Government has replaced the Church as arbiter on moral issues and the hierarchy, either will not (implying agreement), or are afraid to take a stand. Moral authority lost, weak liturgy, wounded by scandal and at times, too focused on non-governmental-organization social justice matters at the expense of preaching the gospels, administration of the sacraments (like they continue to mean something) in addition to the saving of souls. By no means is this the universal experience in this country; but, it is nonetheless prevalent in many places. What, then, do people expect?
ByzRus,
That was a tour de force - you summed up nicely where things stand. My hopes are attached to the younger clergy who are far more orthodox than their elders and are decidedly not hostile to sacred tradition. In my parish and two neighboring ones, all 3 pastors, all in their thirties, celebrate the TLM (Roche and the rest of Canute and company will be grieved). Someday prelates like Cupich, Gregory and Tobin AND Pope Francis will just be a bad memory
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